Yoga for Dogs?

Apr30

Duncan, doing what he does best...sleeping

Okay, for a moment, when I was writing the title of this post, I wondered if I had gone off the deep end, officially becoming the true definition of a Vancouver hippie. Alas, my doggie yoga research was really quite innocent. It all comes down to a mad love for English Bull Terriers. Allow me to explain.

This is a photo of my English Bull Terrier, Duncan, who was given to me as a gift (I do not advise such “gifts”, by the way) when friends worried I was lonely. He came into my life during a stressful time, made everything more light (despite a hefty 75 pounds of stocky poundage) and comical and brought so much love into each day. Sadly, on Remembrance Day last year, Duncan had a massive seizure and died when he was only three years old. I wrote about losing him with my Chatelaine blog, and you can read it here. To say the very least, I was devastated to lose my boy, my friend and my ultimate relaxation tool.

A year and a half has passed and so it is officially time for a new puppy, and since I didn’t quite get enough time with such an awesome breed, another Bull Terrier is officially on order and to be born in less than two months, to affectionately named Pot Roast. (The irony of the fact that I just cooked an actual pot roast last night is not lost on me, but I digress.) So, since I have no particular social life, I do a lot of “Bull Terrier” research, which is how I came across the story of Yoga Dogz, inspired by a Bull Terrier who began to imitate his owner and her yoga poses. Instantly, I ordered one of the funny calendars to brighten up my office.

But this got me to looking into actual yoga for dogs and I came across this article in Reader’s Digest. Yoga for our pets is popping up all over North America and why not? They already serve as such stress reducers for their owners that why shouldn’t they be part of our yoga practices? After all, our pets are family and all they really want is to be part of the pack. I mean, they already how “downward dog” mastered, right? And in a world where people push their dogs in strollers, carry them in purses and buy them $100 collars (guilty!), what’s wrong with a little relaxation in our lives?

But is doga (yes, I literally saw the term used in an article) a new-age fad, or do you think it has the same relaxation benefits for our pets as it does for us? Admittedly, I can’t picture any primal wolves strolling into a studio and bending into warrior pose, but at the same time, so many of the stretches we practice have been garnered from animals…cat, dog, lizard, frog, cobra. So is yoga for our pets really that far off the mark?

I don’t know if doggie yoga is in the future for Pot Roast and I, but I’d certainly be willing to give it a shot. At the very least, it can’t hurt.

Kelly

Filed Under: In The News, Styles & Poses Tagged With: , , ,

Full Lotus vs. Scoliosis and Other Yogic Victories

Apr18

My sister was diagnosed with a moderate case of scoliosis in her early teen years. Like many brothers of girls with the condition, I have a slight bend of the spine in roughly the same place as her more pronounced curvature. Even though it’s caused fairly predictable lower back pain over the years, my situation is nothing compared to what my sister endured. For two years during her adolescence, she had to wear a back brace: an unwieldy, difficult contraption indeed. Fortunately, it worked for her and her spine is now in great shape.

For me, a disciplined yoga practice turned out to be the long-term answer to my mild scoliosis-induced lower back pain.

My number one position for relieving persistent lower back pain is the Full Lotus position (Padmasana). It has the most amazing effect on the spine, taking all the pressure off it and allowing one to sit comfortably for long periods without strain or the need for support. As most readers of Yoga Flavored Life no doubt know, it’s quite remarkable in its simplicity! Ancient yogis discovered it in their search for a meditative position in which the body would be perfectly balanced, allowing the seeker to sit for extended periods without bodily interference.

Here’s a lovely gatha regarding Padmasana, one that expresses a compassionate intention for all sentient beings:

When sitting in the full-lotus posture,
I vow that all living beings
will have solid good roots
And attain the Unmoving Ground.
(FAS Ch11 127)

(The “Unmoving Ground” referenced here represents an interesting parallel to the Paul Tillich’s definition of divinity. The 20th century German theologian called God “The Ground of All Being.”)

Another wonderful antidote to persistent lower back pain is the Bow Pose, or Dhanurasana. (Does anyone out there know an inspiring gatha about this pose? I just lost my connectivity and thus my access to the online source that provided the gatha above!)

Designed to stretch the spine, Dhanurasana is a great way to take pressure off your back and relieve pain. I find that when I hold this position for three full breaths, I experience both pain relief and a sense of being more fully at home in my own body. The picture above suggests an excellent way to proofread your writing (with the possible exception of the fact that you need a friend—or your nose—to move the cursor for you!).

Filed Under: Styles & Poses Tagged With: , , ,

Oh, How Neutral Pelvis Evades Me

Feb29

Body Composition
Creative Commons License photo credit: gyro2

Okay, this is a weird title for a blog post, I know. But a neutral pelvis position seems to be a constant in most yoga poses and for some reason, I just can’t seem to master it and the mantra “find neutrality” seems to be the one correction I receive on a regular basis, in any and all yoga classes, especially when in Warrior pose. For some reason, something that is supposed to be completely natural is the one pose that seems bizarrely unnatural. I’ve been left wondering if I’m even capable of the perfect pose.

In a very interesting online article found here, I found out that the only time our pelvis is naturally neutral is when we are on all fours or when sitting back on our heels. Because of my knee injury, both my on all fours and sitting back on my heels are impossible. But I know that finding this elusive position will align my spine and provide me with greater comfort when in poses, so in classes, I can be found constantly (and seemingly, creepily) tilting my pelvis back and forth, trying to find what feels natural and comfortable. Eventually, the instructor seems to give up and move on to correcting a new yogi more adaptable to instruction.

The funny thing is, like most challenges in life, when I finally stopped trying, it seemed to happen. Recently, following one of my at home videos, my hips naturally fell into place and after that, each subsequent pose felt ten times more comfortable. Suddenly, I was able to move deeply into stretches, relax my breath and move into a better state of meditation. For once, I was able to stop worrying about finding a certain pose and just allow myself to be in the moment, enjoying all that yoga was doing for me.

So although this is a short post, it is dual-pronged. First of all, if you manage to find a neutral pelvic position, it will truly enhance your practice and allow you to appreciate each stretch. Secondly, and most importantly, don’t kill yourself trying to find a position when your body just won’t cooperate. Eventually, you will get there.

Kelly

Filed Under: Focus on Anatomy, Styles & Poses Tagged With: , ,

How Far Is Too Far?

Feb16

 weight-loss-yoga-synergybyjasmine.comCreative Commons License photo credit: Synergy by Jasmine

My Dad, who I love to absolute bits, is a very interesting man, full of complexities and stories to tell. But as I mentioned in another post, he really isn’t someone I would picture being inclined towards the practice of yoga. He’s a bit gruff. He doesn’t like “touchy-feely stuff.” He’s the kind of father you could imagine meeting his daughter’s dates at the door with a shotgun (okay, he never did this, but it would be easy to picture). So my father’s recent voyage into the yoga world has been nothing short of shocking. And I do mean shocking. However, after a recent visit to the massage therapist, he was informed he was taking it a bit far and was on the brink of injuring himself, stretching his muscles beyond what they’re currently capable of. This got me to thinking: Just how far is too far when it comes to yoga?

I do believe that one of the great things about a good yoga class is that it pushes us to challenge ourselves and what we think our minds and limbs are capable of. However, it’s also important to listen to what your body is telling you. Apparently, my father’s body is saying, “Please stop. I’m not quite ready for this.” But still he pushes and I’m guilty of having done the exact same thing in class, but never when home alone by myself. Why is that?

Now us soldiers, current and retired alike, are a bit of a competitive breed and so are many other North Americans. It’s bred into us, after all! But when you’re sitting in a small yoga class, watching what the guy next to you is doing, it’s easy to push yourself to his level, even if that isn’t quite your level yet. In most of the classes I go to, the instructor will show a pose, then provide several different alternatives for beginners, intermediate and advanced yogis. But when you’re surrounded by a bunch of advanced people in full on Salamba Sirsasana while you’re bent into Child’s Pose, it’s difficult to sit there and perform the “easy version.”

I learned long ago to not let myself feel bad about sitting in the beginner version of a pose, if that is where I feel I need to be at that particular moment. Some days, I’m just not my best yoga self, and pushing to be something I’m not makes the whole experience negative instead of positive and reflective, as it should be. Other days, I am one of the advanced people! But I don’t push myself to be someone else. If I did, that sort of takes the pleasure and purpose out of yoga.

So all I can advise is to listen to what your body is saying. If a stretch just isn’t quite feeling right, back right off until it does. But if you’re feeling particularly limber one day, then give yourself permission to stretch that much further. But don’t compete. Don’t look at what the guy next to you is doing and think, “Well I can do that.” Because one day, with a bit of practice, you will be that guy. Yoga is a journey and each path winds in a different direction, full of bumps in the road. The best part is, for each person, the destination different. That’s what keeps it interesting.

Kelly

Filed Under: Basics, Focus on Anatomy, Styles & Poses Tagged With: , ,

Yoga for the Headache Prone

Nov12

I have frequent headaches. I have a genetic predisposition to them; my father also suffered from them regularly. On occasion, they blossom into full-blown migraines, with all the fun things associated with them: sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and blinding, debilitating pain. I was in fact first drawn to yoga in an effort to get my headaches under control, at a period in my life when they were intractable, almost daily events. On the off-chance that there might be another chronic headache sufferer out there who hasn’t tried yoga to ameliorate his or her pain, I offer these suggestions.

The most common, well-known type of headache is the tension headache. It typically begins with muscle tension in the shoulders and neck which then spreads to the temples and forehead. Sufferers feel that there is a band tightening across their heads. It is very difficult to concentrate with this kind of nagging pain; it feels as if the pain is at the center of your being, demanding your attention.

Try sitting down and taking three deep, mindful breaths.

This alone begins the healing process, because the painful areas are crying out for more oxygen.

Next, lie down on your stomach and go into a Cobra position:

This is wonderful; it stretches your neck and back muscles, going right to the root of the tension headache. Hold the position for four full breaths.

From there, move into Downward Facing Dog:

You’ll feel blood rushing toward your neck and head, bringing more much-needed oxygen to the site of the pain. Hold for four breaths.

Next, stand and go into Tree Pose:

Be sure to stretch your hands high, and switch feet. Hold each for four breaths.

Next, reach back and take your right ankle in your right hand. Stretch out and hold for four deep breaths. Then switch to your left ankle in your left hand, and repeat the posture on that side.

Now, drop both hands in front of you and bend at the waist as far as possible without pain. Hold for four breaths.

Drop to your knees, going into Child Pose. Hold for four breaths.

Sit up into a Lotus or Half Lotus Pose, and conclude with ten minutes of meditation.

I’ve used this series of poses for years with excellent results. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself free of that nagging headache and suffused with a feeling of clarity and well-being. You’ll be able to get by taking fewer painkillers. This series of asanas is excellent for back pain and stiff neck as well as headache. Our bodies know what they need to heal themselves;  we just have to allow them to do so.

All the best,

William K Ferro

Filed Under: Styles & Poses, Wellness
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